MRI Proves Vital in Determining the Cause of Seizures Due to Epilepsy

MRI Proves Vital in Determining the Cause of Seizures Due to Epilepsy

Seizures, or the abnormal movements or behavior caused by unusual electrical activity on the brain, are one of the most common symptom of epilepsy. Not all people who’ve had seizures have epilepsy, though. For epilepsy patients, seizures happen twice or more in at least 24 hours apart, without any obvious triggers.

Medications in the form of anti-seizure drugs are prescribed to epilepsy patients, but it’s only seen to work for two out of three patients. Treating this condition, then, would depend on its type, which often proves to be difficult to diagnose.

Diagnosing Epilepsy with MRI

Since epilepsy is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, this condition is often diagnosed through imaging techniques. MRI, in particular, is recommended for patients who have developed epilepsy during adulthood, as it can confirm if the condition is caused by damage to the brain. This imaging technique is also recommended for epilepsy patients who still experience seizures after taking their medication.

Detecting Lesions and Other Abnormalities

Patients can opt to undergo an epilepsy protocol MRI, which yields better diagnostic images over conventional MRI. For one, an epilepsy protocol MRI scans yield abnormalities in 72% of patients. Furthermore, focal-lesion sensitivity for epilepsy protocol MRI was found to be at 91%. This allows medical experts to detect an epileptogenic lesion in over 80% of epilepsy patients.

It’s also possible to diagnose epilepsy-associated diseases through MRI, including mesial tempora sclerosis, focal cortical dysplasia, and ulegyria. It can even detect the presence of tumors associated with this condition.

A proper diagnosis is vital in administering the right treatment for epilepsy patients. Let centers such as the Glendale MRI Institute conduct an MRI and help ascertain the kind of treatment appropriate for you.

Sources:

Neuroimaging in Epilepsy, Emedicine.Medscape.com
Role of MRI in Epilepsy, RadiologyAssistant.nl